Newsmakers: Aug. 14-20, 2023

Energy & Environment
Sun Solar LLC ranked No. 33 among the top residential solar contractors in the United States and the No. 1 residential solar installer in Missouri in Solar Power World’s list of the top solar contractors. The industry publication compiles companies that demonstrate expertise and quality, and that significantly contribute to advancing solar power adoption.

Engineering
Bartlett & West Inc. was named to the Forbes list of America’s Best Small Employers 2023. In partnership with Statista Inc., the awards are based on employee satisfaction surveys, public opinion and social listening data. Qualifying companies have between 200 and 1,000 employees.

Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital added Dr. Courtney De Souza at the Butterfield Park Medical Center and Dr. Julie Henson at the Bolivar Family Care Center. Both practice family medicine. De Souza holds a doctorate in medicine from St. George’s, University of London and completed the family medicine residency program at Swedish Hospital of the NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago. Henson holds a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from A.T. Still University College in Kirksville and completed the family medicine residency program at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. Since 2019, she’s served as a primary care physician and medical director of the U.S. Army Health Clinic in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Logistics
Mike Finan was named vice president of Cold Zone, the third-party logistics division of Erlen Group that operates in Springfield Underground. With experience working at Springfield ReManufacturing Corp., as an engineering director and general manager, as well as at NBCUniversal, he leads strategy, business development and operations for Cold Zone.

Manufacturing
SRC Automotive Inc. made several promotions: Aaron LaRose to vice president of sales, Ben York to director of engineering, Leland Dull to production manager, Michael Anderson to manufacturing engineering manager, Clint Ackerman to product engineering manager, John Harp to product engineer and Sean Williams to lead quality auditor.

Nonprofit
Springfield-area State Farm Insurance agents donated $85,000 to Convoy of Hope for disaster response efforts. The agents also volunteered to assist in packing 1,000 hygiene kits for distribution.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District hired Vickie Hicks as community relations director to succeed the retiring Kathleen O’Dell. Hicks has 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations and recruiting, most recently working as resource development director for United Way of the Ozarks. Hicks is responsible for library marketing and materials, promoting programs and engaging the library in community activities.

Springfield Tech Council added four board members: Nathan Barnes, digital product head for Bayada Home Health Care; Cheryl Hertel, chief information officer at CoxHealth; Linda Leslie, enterprise account manager for Bluebird Network; and Calvin Piche, director of information technology at Erlen Group.

The Good Samaritan Boys Ranch received $349,811 in 70% Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The funds will help underwrite the Catalyst Program for youth in foster care dealing with trauma.

Recreation
Anything Possible Brands won Best in Show for Youth Tackle at the ICast 2023 fishing convention in Orlando, Florida. Having won six out of the past eight years, Anything Possible was recognized for its new Next Gen combination rod and reel for young anglers.